Copa America will use 2016/17 law
CHICAGO (June 3, 2016) – The Copa America Centenario Local Organizing Committee announced today the inclusion of several new regulations based on the 2016/17 Laws of the Game from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body responsible for setting the rules of the sport. The historic Copa America Centenario kicks off tonight at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, featuring United States vs. Colombia, which will be the first match around the world to implement several of the new regulations.
The tournament, celebrating its 100-year anniversary, will be steeped in tradition, history, and fanfare. However, the sport has gone through several changes throughout history, and this edition of the tournament is no different, as the IFAB has revised and implemented several new provisions into the official Tournament Regulations for the Copa America Centenario.
Implemented for the Copa America Centenario is a regulation regarding yellow card accumulation. If a player receives two yellow cards in two games during the group stages and Quarterfinal, they will be suspended for the following game (Semifinal). However, once the Quarterfinals are completed, card accumulations are reset for the Semifinal and Final.
The Copa America is also different from many other major international soccer tournaments with the regulations in regards to extra time. During the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, if both teams are tied at the end of the regulation time, the winner of the match will be decided by penalty kicks, without first giving an additional period of time. Only during the final match of the tournament will the traditional two additional periods of 15 minutes each be played. If scores are still level after that, the champion will be decided by penalties.
Additionally, the tournament’s Executive Committee approved and received written approval from FIFA to allow for a fourth substitution should the Final enter extra time.